Over 30 students from the Hoover High School graduating class of 2014 attended the North Canton City Schools Board of Education meeting Wednesday to show support for keeping this year's graduation program at a local church.

One student, 18-year-old Matt Sahadi, spoke to the board about a petition he has circulated. It has signatures of 288 students from the graduating class demonstrating their support for keeping the ceremony at the Faith Family Church at 8200 Freedom Ave.

The 2012 and 2013 commencements were held at the church. Last August, Superintendent Michael Hartenstein received a letter addressed to him from The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) headquartered in Madison, Wis. The letter stated that the organization had been contacted by a local parent regarding North Canton Schools holding their graduation ceremony in the auditorium at Faith Family Church.

FFRF "works to protect the constitutional principle of separation of church and state," according to the letter.

The group says it is unconstitutional for a public high school "to force, compel or coerce its graduating students, their parents, teachers and other members of their families or friends to violate their rights of conscience at a graduation ceremony."

The letter also says "the selection of the Faith Family Church as the site for the Hoover High School commencement ceremony demonstrates the school's preference for religion over non-religion and, more specifically, Christianity over all other faiths."

Hartenstein said the district has decided not to hold the ceremony at the church.

"A site for this year's commencement has not been confirmed yet, but it will not be held at the church," Hartenstein said.

"We are considering the Canton Civic Center or using the auditorium at Hoover High School," he said.

In response, Sahadi put together a petition for graduating students to sign asking the district to reconsider and hold the ceremony at the church.

"The auditorium in the Faith Family Church offers seating for 4,000 people, unlimited parking, it has great acoustics, and it is centrally located just minutes from Hoover High School. The Canton Civic Center has difficult parking and it is located outside of the North Canton School district," Sahadi said.

He also said local businesses and other community groups rent the auditorium for various non-religious events. Sahadi told the board that he started circulating the petition Dec. 9 and within a few days, 283 of the 413 seniors from this year's graduating class had signed the petition.

"Currently, Hoover rents its facilities to a church," he said. "And, not one outsider has complained about that. What is the difference between a church renting a facility from Hoover and Hoover renting a facility from a church?"

Jeanne Konowal, a Hoover alum who has two children enrolled at Hoover, also spoke to the board.

"The holding of the 2014 graduation at Faith Family Church will not change the ceremony in any way, shape or form," Konowal said.

Page 2 of 2 - "It does not suddenly become more religious because it is held in the auditorium of the church. The invocation used will be the same, any references made to deity in the commencement speeches and even the closing 'The Lord Bless You and Keep You' will remain the same no matter where the ceremony takes place," she said.

Konowal said that the letter from the FFRF stated there are 530 members in Ohio and comparatively there are 410 students graduating from Hoover this year.

"I want the board and the administration to understand that I don't have any issues with them, I appreciate everything they do for the students. I just wanted them to see how important this is to the students. This is not about holding commencement in a church. It's about holding it in an auditorium that meets the needs of students and their families. That auditorium just happens to be owned and rented out by a church," Sahadi said.

He said the next step is to meet with the superintendent and then meet with fellow students to determine what to do next.

OTHER ACTION

Met in executive session to discuss personnel matters. When the board came out of executive session, they approved a five-year contract for treasurer, Todd Tolson, effective Aug. 1, 2014 with a salary of $113,300 a year.

Recognized two outgoing board members, Chris Goldthorpe and Chris Thomas. Goldthorpe is retiring after 20 years of service as a board member and Thomas is leaving after serving four years.

Approved establishing a North Canton Hoover High School Athletic Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding athletes, coaches, teams and individuals who have contributed significantly to the athletic program.

Granted permission to donate bricks from the Charlotte Avenue school to the North Canton Sideliners to use for a fundraiser project.

UP NEXT

Meets at 6 p.m., Jan. 8 in the Media Center at Hoover High School beginning with an organizational meeting with Betty Fulton acting as Pro Tem.